Former Mayor Wellington Webb mouthpiece and PR Jobs List poobah Andrew Hudson is famous locally for playing bass with his jazz band at metro-area charity events and other gigs.
He’s also been known to hoist his tuba and march along with a cadre of like-minded musicians during an annual event on Larimer Square.
But Hudson in a country-western band? Bust my bolo tie!
The Internet job-seeking expert is a member of The Legendary Whiskey Sour Band, which performs country music at weddings, corporate parties, conventions, county fairs, cookouts, festivals, private parties, (Bar Mitzvahs ?) and other events.
The band is booked to play Monday during the grand opening party of the new Western Home & Design Center at the Denver Mart (formerly the Denver Merchandise Mart) .
Hudson told me the story behind the origins of The Whiskey Sour Band, which I suspect is heavily steeped in fiction.
“Willard ‘Whiskey Sour’ Hudson was an American frontiersman, an accomplished trapper and mountain explorer,” Hudson said as he started spinning the tale. “The great, great uncle of band leader Andrew Hudson, Whiskey was born in 1801 and at the age of 18, he left his home in rural Missouri to explore the west. Extremely far-sighted, his constant squinting gave him the look of an angry, intense, ready-to-boil-over hot-head.
“He acquired the name Whiskey Sour in a saloon poker game and it stuck with him most of his life. His ‘sour’ look was helpful in his business dealings and in his poker gambling. People who knew him said it was a rare thing to witness a smile on Whiskey’s lips and you could never really read what he was thinking with his angry squint and down-turned mouth. He was all business and was never much in the mood for jokes or friendly relations with others.
“Legend has it that the only time Whiskey cracked a smile was when he was in the presence of a cowboy band he heard one time in Denver. It was the only thing that brought Whiskey real pleasure and when he did smile, it lit up the room like a full moon on the prairie.
“The Legendary Whiskey Sour Band aims to create the same kind of musical enjoyment that can force even the meanest curmudgeon to smile.”
And this footnote: “BTW – Whiskey Sour really was my great, great uncle,” Hudson said. “It’s a legend. You choose what you want to believe. There’s a little truth in there.” I’m thinking Hudson came up with this story after one too many whiskey sours.
But if you want to book the band, contact: Andrew Hudson – 720-289-5877 or info@thelegendarywhiskeysourband.com.
Colorado Restaurant Association industry awards announced
Noted restaurant industry pros will be lauded during the CRA’s 80th Anniversary & Industry Spotlight Awards: The Night Hospitality Superstars Will Shine!, beginning at 6 p.m. April 4 at The Ritz-Carlton Denver.
This year’s inductees into the Colorado Foodservice Hall of Fame are: Tom Garrett (La Montana), Don Goldman (Blue Onion) and Toshi and Yasu Kizaki (Sushi Den).
Others receiving honors include Signature Dish winners: Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Deli and Old Major) – Exceptional Newcomer Award; Troy Guard (TAG, TAG Rawbar and TAG Burger Bar) – Outstanding Professional Award; John Greco (Upstairs at Jonny G’s Bar, Nightclub & Pizzeria in Frisco) and Dan Kirby (Chez Lena at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction – Regional Outstanding Professional Award; Jim Smith (Republic National Distributing Company) – Philanthropist Award; Sharon Magness Blake – Noel and Tammy Cunningham Humanitarian Award and Mike Sagrillo (Bonefish Grill) – The CRA Education Foundation’s Knoebel Reaching for the Stars Award.
The association’s most prestigious award, The Richard P. Ayers Award for Distinguished Service, will be presented to a surprise recipient that evening by 2012 recipient Mary Mino. Radio restaurant show host Mike Boyle (and serial shorts wearer) will emcee the event.
Tickets: www.craspotlightawards.com or call Sara Nakon at 303-830-2972, ext. 112.
Ski scene seen
"Today Show" host Matt Lauer reportedly was seen skiing at Vail this week with his family. (file photo)
If you’re a “Today Show” viewer, you know that lead host Matt Lauer has been absent from the show this week. According to my spy, Lauer and his family have been spotted on a ski vacation in Vail.
Meanwhile, over at Avon, another spy reports that Academy Award-winning actress Frances McDormand and her filmmaker-husband Joel Coen have been staying at The Westin Riverfront this week.
I’m told that, “They are skiing and relaxing.”
Salud!
In celebration of National Margarita Day today (que bueno!), Racines will feature three new cocktails created specially for the day along with their regular lineup of award winning margaritas. http://nationalmargaritaday.com
Special margaritas created just for National Margarita Day:
Blood Orange Margarita
José Cuervo Tradicional tequila , fresh limes, Agavero tequila liqueur, blood orange juice.
Pomegranate Margarita
Sauza Blue Agave Silver tequila, Cointreau, limes, pomegranate juice.
Cadillac Margarita
1800 Reposado tequila, limes, agave nectar, orange juice, Grand Marnier.
Racines, 650 Sherman St., Denver. 303-595-0418; www.racinesrestaurant.com.
Top chef
Congrats to Coohills executive sous chef Austin Henry who beat out four other chef-testants to win the executive position at Oceano in Puerto Rico during a competition on the Food Network series “Chef Wanted With Anne Burrell.”
If you missed the episode, you can find it on Comcast On Demand or at http://www.facebook.com/coohills?ref=ts&fref=ts.
Although Coohills chef/co-owner Tom Coohill said losing Henry from his kitchen crew was a tough dish to swallow, Coohill wishes his former employee well.
“Austin was a great member of our culinary team,” Coohill said. “He has a passion for food and was very open to learning new things, which will help him in his future adventures.”
For more information on the 1400 Wewatta restaurant owned by husband and wife team Tom and Diane Coohill, go to www.coohills.com.
Coohills restaurant co-owner Diane Coohill and executive sous chef Austin Henry, who won the executive chef position at Oceano in Puerto Rico during a competition on the Food Network series “Chef Wanted With Anne Burrell.”
Eavesdropping on a woman talking on the phone to her boyfriend: “I’m getting ready to get my boss a salad from Smashburger for his lunch.”
“A salad at Smashburger? That’s like going to a porn store and getting a Disney flick!”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m now the social-media liaison for the Mile High Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association, so read my latest restaurant news there. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com.
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